Mavs tip nail-biter with fourth quarter lay up

The Kiowa County Mavericks and the Minneola Wildcats battled for every point last Friday enroute to a nail-biting fourth quarter with the Mavericks sinking a final lay-up in the last moments and sealing the 38-35 win over their league rivals.

By Patrick Clement - Signal Editor

Kiowa County Signal - Kiowa County, KS

By Patrick Clement - Signal Editor

Posted Jan. 15, 2012 at 12:01 AM
Updated Jan 15, 2012 at 2:04 PM

By Patrick Clement - Signal Editor

Posted Jan. 15, 2012 at 12:01 AM
Updated Jan 15, 2012 at 2:04 PM

Minneola, Ks.

The Kiowa County Mavericks and the Minneola Wildcats battled for every point last Friday enroute to a nail-biting fourth quarter with the Mavericks sinking a final lay-up in the last moments and sealing the 38-35 win over their league rivals.

“I thought we played well,” said head coach Nick Perez. “We are still struggling offensively, and struggling to make shots. I thought our post play was extremely effective. I though Damien [Odle] and Jordan Wyrick did really well. Keith Prosser didn’t score a point, but he came in there and played his tail off.

“Minneola’s a little tougher than everybody expected,” continued Perez. “They’re a good basketball team. I think we played the best defensive game that we’ve played all year. I know that it didn’t translate into a bunch of points. It was an up and down kind of game.”

Odle, #25, had a big night with a double-double, scoring a team high 12 points and 11 rebounds, shooting 2-for-3 from the free throw line and .500 percent from the field. Odle has a .585 percent fielding average on the season.

“With Damien, I expect that out of him at every game,” Perez said. “I expect it out of Rustin [Ardery]. Not just once in a while. They are the kind of players that work hard in practice. I think Damien’s done a good job, I think Rustin’s done a good job.”

Ardery had a less-than-average game, with a 6-point, 4-rebound, one steal game. Ardery has averaged almost 10 points per game and leads the team in overall scoring with 58 points on the season and shooting for a .510 percent field average.

Montana Ralstin, #2 had a 9-point game, shooting a perfect 4-for-4 from the field.

Caleb Davis, #4 had his worse shooting game of the season, only sinking 2-of-12 from the field and 1-of-9 three-point attempts, notching a .170 percent shooting average on the night. Davis has been one of the top outside offensive players this season, averaging 9 points per game with a season field goal percentage of .360 percent, which dropped to .322 after Friday’s game.

“I think the players that don’t get the credit are players like Jordan Wyrick and Keith Prosser,” continued Perez. “Prosser’s [under 6 foot] and he’s playing post. They come in and they work hard and they battle. They’re getting better everyday. We can talk about who scores the most and who gets all of the rebounds, no one wants to talk about all of the dirty work those two guys do.”

The Mavericks (3-4-0) face Hodgeman County (2-3-0) on Tuesday with both teams looking to jump the league ladder and get back to playing .500 ball.

“Number one, we’ve got to guard,” said Perez. “ I think the key [on Tuesday night] is getting back into transition. I think if we can handle their 2-1-2 press and taking care of the basketball, I see us getting a W.”